Muhyiddin: By-election has huge implications

KAJANG: Kajang voters must reject Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the March 23 polls in order to avert a crisis from happening in Selangor, said Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The Barisan Nasional deputy chairman said it was an open secret that the PKR leader intended to take over the state leadership from Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim and was using the “differences” between the latter and state PKR chief Azmin Ali to “enter the picture”.

Muhyiddin said Anwar’s ambition would not go down well with certain quarters, including PAS, which had indicated that they would not support him as mentri besar, while Khalid’s supporters would fight to defend their leader.

“This will result in a political crisis and leave the state in limbo as the Pakatan Rakyat government will be busy with infighting.

“It is the rakyat who will suffer as development and their welfare will be neglected,” he said when meeting the people at the Al-Falah surau in Kampung Bukit Dukung.

The by-election was called after the PKR elected representative Lee Chin Cheh resigned last month.

Muhyiddin said the implications of the by-election were great and people had to think wisely as their decision would determine how well their welfare would be looked after.

He said Barisan had chosen a good leader in Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun as the candidate for the by-election, adding that the people of Kajang could rest assured that she would look after their interests if elected.

Describing Chew as a credible and experienced leader, Muhyiddin said that women could look forward to having a representative who would fight for their cause, while the men would also be taken care of.

“For years, we have always fielded a candidate from MCA in Kajang and our representative is here to serve all races.

“Although Chew is facing a tough fight as she will be contesting against the Opposition Leader, we are here to support her and to convince the people of Kajang to give her the opportunity to serve,” he added.

On a proposal by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup to remove the “race” category from all official forms, Muhyiddin said he should raise the matter with the Cabinet.

“If it is feasible, we can consider it,” he said.

On Saturday, Kurup said that to create a single national identity, the race category should be removed from all official forms.